by Uncle Wes, October 25, 2004

1) Anton how many years have you been fishing? I have been fishing for 45 years. I caught my first fish independently on my 6th birthday. That was over 43 years ago.
2) Who were your mentors? I have had a lot of influences. My dad got me started. My Scoutmaster, Don Kerklo honed my ability to read water and fostered my passion for fishing. Here in the Northwest, I most tried to emulate Rick Graybill that guided on Lake Chelan for many years. He was the most technically proficient fisherman that I have ever seen. As a guide, I have taken a lot of advice from Gordon Steinmetz of Big Wally's Guide Service on Banks Lake and "Touchet" of Fly bye Nyte Guide Service. 
3) Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your fishing career and why? I would have to say that my wife Sandy has. She gave me the ability to pursue my passion for fishing, both in terms of the time it takes and the money that it takes to by the equipment without guilt. She also gave the go ahead to sink so much of our family resources into the guide service.
4) How many years have you been a guide on Lake Chelan? This is my fifth season guiding. It is my 13th year fishing the lake.
5) Have ever guided on other lakes and which ones? I have only professionally guided on Lake Chelan.
6) What was the largest Mackinaw-Trout you’ve put a client onto? Personally, it was a 28lb 9.25 ounce fish that was 42.5" long with a 27.5" girth. It was in July of 2003. Our associate guide Joe Heinlen put a 10 year old kid on a 29lb 3.25 ounce fish this past August 26th. It was 41" with a 30" girth.7) How do you feel about the no limit rule on the Macks? I have mixed feelings. From a biological standpoint, I think it will be minimally beneficial. I think that biggest danger to the fish population is the crash of our zooplankton population from the proliferation of the mysis shrimp. 
                From a Public Relations standpoint I think the no limit rule has been detrimental. These fish have suffered from a public image problem in the Northwest. We would probably value them more if there was a limit.
8) How has this affected your business? Again, it has been mixed. Some people are put off because of it. I think more are attracted to the prospect of being able to keep a bunch of fish. It has made for a lot more work at the cleaning station.
9) How has Lake Chelan changed since you’ve been guiding there? The Chinook population has continued to drop, the Mackinaw have continued to proliferate. I think the average size Mackinaw has dropped.10) Do you think there is a new state record Mackinaw swimming around in Lake Chelan? Yes
11)  What seems to be the best time of year for these big trout? Logically, you would think it would be in the fall before the spawn when the big females are loaded with developed eggs, but I have to say my experience is that big fish can come at any time, but they do seem to run in streaks. 
12)  Do you have any secrets you’d like to share with us on how to catch these big guys? I don't keep secrets. For me, I like the Vince Lombardi analogy. I like to run a few presentations that I have proven hundreds of times, but do it very precisely. To consistently catch Mackinaw here you have to fish a good lure at the correct speed close to the bottom. My bread and butter presentation is a U-20 Luminous Chartreuse flatfish fished at 1.2 knots (on my indicator) within 5 or 10 feet of the bottom. I have caught thousands of lakers on this presentation. Hundreds have been over 10 pounds. A few dozen have been over 15 lbs. A few have been over 20 pounds.13)  How do feel the re-introduction of Cutthroats will change the fishing opportunities there? I am prepared to move to surface presentations and lighten my tackle if them become the dominant fish in the system. With a giant predator like the Mackinaw already present. A pressured food base at the plankton and zooplankton level and an artificial lake level manipulation that hampers cutthroat spawning, I think the fisheries managers have an up hill battle trying to make them the pre-eminent fish in the lake.
14)  Do you think that there will be any trophy size cutthroats available in the near future? There already are in the Stehelin basin.
15)  Do you think this cutthroat fishery will be something the guides will eventually start keying on? If they become something that you can count on day in and day out in the lower basin.
16)  With the salmon fishing in decline for the last several years on Chelan do you think it will ever make a come back and be as big of a draw as it was in years past? There is a continuing effort to re-establish a chinook fishery in the lake. It has been an uphill battle. If we can ever raise fish in pens that can released into the lake after both smolting cycles, we will have it licked. Without that, we have a real uphill battle.
17)  What do you feel led to the decline of the salmon fishery? It is pretty much agreed upon by the fishery biologists that four straight years of lousy spawning conditions when we were completely dependent on natural reproduction was primarily responsible. Starting with the 100 year winter of 96-97 we had 4 straight years when the eggs were washed into the lake from the uplake tributaries before they had a chance to hatch.
18)  Is there anything else you would like to add about the fishery at Lake Chelan? We have one of the few if not the only year round freshwater fisheries in the Northwest that you can consistently catch fish that you measure in pounds not inches. Also, unlike Canadian shield lakers that eat ciscoes and whitefish, our shrimp fed lakers are delicious. You also have a genuine chance at an over 10 pound fish any day that you go out.